Things You'll Need
Shimmer Lights shampoo
Water
White Vinegar
Spray bottle
Boric acid
Baby Powder
Milk of magnesia
Small jar
Toothbrush
Hydrogen Peroxide
Grass stains, while so hard to remove from laundry, are really not that hard to get rid of on your dog's fur, or at the very least, minimized to the point where they are almost invisible. You may be surprised to find out that some of the best things used to remove grass and other types of stains from you pet's fur are simple mixtures of very common household staples. Armed with the knowledge of some tricks from the trade of professional grooming, you will be on your way to getting rid of those grass stains for good.
For all over staining
Bathe your dog with Shimmer Lights shampoo using cool to warm water. If you use hot water on a white dog with Shimmer Lights shampoo, you will have a light purple dog. Shimmer Lights works well with darker color hair as well, as it does not bleach the hair.
Let the shampoo stay on for 2 minutes, and then rinse off.
Check to see if the grass stains have been removed. If they have not, bathe your dog in the shampoo a second time, leaving the shampoo on for three minutes.
Rinse off the Shimmer Lights and check to see if the stain has been removed. If it has not, proceed to Step 5.
Dilute the white vinegar with water to a 1-1 ratio in the spray bottle. Vinegar and water can be used in and of itself as a grass stain remover for pet. This will work for all colors of hair, including the darker shades.
Spray the affected area liberally and let set for five minutes. Apply a good conditioner to your dog's coat when finished.
For small stains
Measure out equal parts of boric acid and baby powder into a small jar.
Stir in milk of magnesia slowly until you have formed a paste. The amount of liquid added is directionally proportionate to the amount of dry ingredients you have used. Start slowly with a teaspoon, and then go from there.
Dip the toothbrush into the jar to apply the paste.
Apply the paste to the grass stain with the toothbrush using short even strokes to get good coverage.
Allow the paste to dry, and then brush out. You have not wet your dog's fur and skin, so you do not have to worry about any irritation because the pores of your dogs skin and the hair follicles have not been opened.
Tips
If the paste is too runny, you can add equal parts of baby powder and boric acid to make it more paste-like.
Listerine is also a good bleaching element for dogs, but has to be used straight and may need several applications.
Warnings
Do not use these applications on cats. When bathing cats, only use products that are labeled "for cats" or " for dogs and cats " on the label.
Do not get these products in or around your dog's eyes or mouth.
Do not use the milk of magnesia treatment, or any other "bleaching" type remedies on any other color dog but white. Shimmer Lights or vinegar will work well without bleaching.
If bathing your dog multiple times in a week, or applying several bleaching treatments in a small span of time, it is very important to apply a good deep conditioner to your dog's skin and coat. Human conditioner is safe for use on your dogs, so any good conditioner that you use for yourself will be good for your pet as well.
References
Photo Credits
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Tibetan Terrier playing with Golden Retriever image by Vanous from Fotolia.com
Writer Bio
Heather Warren is a recently retired pet groomer with 14 years of experience behind her. She began writing professionally in 2010 for Examiner.com as the NW Houston Pets Examiner, and has since gone on to be published on eHow, Answerbag and Triond.com. Warren attended the Jobpops School of Fine Grooming in Houston, Texas.